Overview & Reviews

Value is a concept that conquers the affections of car buyers every time. Dodge knew this all too well, and made value a cornerstone of its strategy for the Dodge Intrepid, turning out an affordably priced car that offered a lot for less. It proved to be an astute move for the automaker. Introduced in 1993 and retired in 2004, the Intrepid distinguished itself as the division's best-selling car in many of its years on the market.

The word "intrepid" means fearless, and this Dodge proved to be just that when it came to its styling cues. Stodginess and full-size sedans go together like Seattle and pouring rain, but Dodge's designers set out to create an alternative that broke free of this mold. An innovative, "cabin-forward" layout resulted in a steeply raked windshield and short front and rear overhangs. The Intrepid's sculpted look (which became even more striking in second-generation models) didn't necessarily light everyone's fire, but it was, undeniably, a bold standout in a notoriously bland segment.

Practicality came via the Dodge Intrepid's spacious amenities. The Intrepid's cab-forward design and front-wheel-drive layout freed up considerable interior space, and the sedan could seat five adults in comfort as well as haul much of their luggage. Nimble handling was another of the car's assets; the Intrepid had the portly size of an operatic tenor, but you'd never know it from its impressive composure and agility. And Intrepid buyers enjoyed the car's power. Its athletic engines gave the car somewhat of a split personality, enabling it to cross the line from family sedan to value-priced sport sedan with ease.

Buyers had to make a few compromises. Materials quality and fit and finish within the cabin weren't up to snuff. Rearward visibility fell somewhat short, and its engines could get raucous when challenged. Still, a late-model Dodge Intrepid shines as a great pick in many respects for buyers seeking a used car that delivers when it comes to competent handling and capacious passenger and cargo room.

Most Recent Dodge Intrepid

The most recent Intrepid generation spanned model years 1998 through 2004. This car continued on the cabin-forward theme of its predecessor, but offered styling that was sleeker and almost coupelike. It also got an engine upgrade, with two new V6s beneath its hood.

This generation's early Dodge Intrepids were offered in two trims: base and ES. Base models featured air-conditioning, heated mirrors and cruise control. ES models added amenities like keyless entry and a power-adjustable driver seat. In 2000, a new trim, the R/T, joined the lineup. R/Ts catered to performance-oriented buyers, offering a sport-tuned suspension and traction control. The base trim became the SE trim in 2001, and the following year, a midlevel trim, the SXT, made its debut. SXT buyers got the same engine as that of the pricier R/T, without many of the performance features. That changed in 2003 when the R/T model was dropped; the SXT was given a performance upgrade that gave it many of the capabilities of the departed R/T.

Base Intrepids were powered by a 2.7-liter V6 good for 200 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. ES models were available with either the base model's 2.7-liter or a 3.2-liter V6 capable of 225 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. Intrepid R/Ts got their mojo from a 3.5-liter V6 producing 242 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. In 2002, Dodge dropped the 3.2-liter engine; replacing it was a 234-hp version of the 3.5-liter V6. All Intrepid models came with a four-speed automatic transmission, and Dodge's "AutoStick" manual-shift feature came standard on the R/T.

A few tweaks were made to the car's appearance and feature content over the years. Chrome badging was added in 1999, along with improved floor carpeting. In 2000, base models got new seat fabric, child-seat anchors were also added, and an in-dash CD changer joined the options list on ES models. The following year, side airbags became available, as well as steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a four-disc in-dash CD changer. In 2003, the four-disc unit was replaced with a six-CD changer.

At the time, our editors were charmed by the Dodge Intrepid -- so much so that in 2000, it scored an Editors' Most Wanted award in the Large Sedan category. We liked the sedan's huge interior, gigantic trunk, communicative steering and pleasing balance of ride quality and handling ability. Cons included a propensity for wind and road noise, low-quality interior materials, disappointing fit and finish and poor outward visibility.

Past Dodge Intrepids

The first-generation Dodge Intrepid was built from 1993 to 1997. Two trims -- base and ES -- were offered. Initially, both were powered by a 3.3-liter V6 good for 153 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque; the engine saw power increases over the years, though, and by the time this generation drew to a close, it offered 161 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. A four-speed automatic transmission sent power to the car's front wheels. A more advanced 3.5-liter V6, producing 214 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, was optional.

ABS was made standard in ES models in 1995, and traction control was added to the options list. Intrepids got upgrades to improve noise, vibration and harshness in 1996; the following year, the car benefited from an improved audio system and a refined transmission. At the time, this Intrepid scored good marks for its roomy interior and power from the optional 3.5-liter V6. Downsides included dubious build quality and weak headlight performance.

User Reviews:

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  Great Vehicle - 1994 Dodge Intrepid
  By Telemachous - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for about 4 years and have loved it. I placed a spoiler on the rear end which helps to offset the awkward appearence that the front end is much lower than the rear. I currently drive the car on highway construction and it has held up better than expected. It amazingly can drive through some rough land. However, it is starting to develop a rattling in the rear end, though I suspect this would not happen with normal use. A very tough car.

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  Intrepid - 1996 Dodge Intrepid
  By drrice opinion - June 29 - 2:00 am

  Sporty, Well-designed vehicle! Decent gas mileage for this sporty a look. 3.5 litre with 24 values runs great.

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  1996 Intrepid - 1996 Dodge Intrepid
  By Smith Family - June 29 - 2:00 am

  The original paint job was poor. We will have to re-paint the hood, top and hood of the car. Other than that, very dependable and fun to drive.

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  Poor integrity, unreliable, fun to drive - 1995 Dodge Intrepid
  By tony_millionaire - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, nice to look at, comfortable w/plenty of interior room. Unreliable transmission, A/C, heating and electrical. Lots of "little things" failing -- passenger side power window wont go up from driver side control, trunk lid doesnt stay up, radio stopped working, traction control starts in park, stalls after long trips. Lots of $$ spent on maintenance and repair. Drove a Honda for 250,000 miles and never saw the kind of problems I have with the Intrepid at 70,000.

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  buy a honda! - 1995 Dodge Intrepid
  By donnnnnn - June 19 - 2:00 am

  looks good - reliability is low

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  Intrepid rocks! - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By Doug95B - June 18 - 2:00 am

  Love it! great colour (Burgandy) tonnes of room! comfort, fun to drive, looks cool and its impossible to lock your doors with keys left in ignition!

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  get ride - 2001 Dodge Intrepid
  By dig dug - June 17 - 2:00 am

  havent had the car long enough to have any great times with it yet but i guess the best so far has been the abliatly to be able to have the power to get out of the way of the other drivers that cannt drive or just dont care about other drivers

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  My 2002 Dodge Intrepid - 2002 Dodge Intrepid
  By Rich L - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I have 28k miles. I get about 34 MPG on long trips and about 19 MPG in city with lots of lights w/2.7 liter/auto.and Amsoil. Windows stick and had a weak motor. Front end is stiff and has road noise. Drivers seat cover had to be restretched twice and same electric mechanism makes grinding noise. You cannot see the front clearance of the hood in front of you and there are huge blind spots.

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  Great Family Vehicle/Sporty Sedan - 1998 Dodge Intrepid
  By Jo & Mel - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Vehcle is very fun to drive - ES has a lot of power. Great gas mileage for size of vehicle. Lots of head room in front & back seats for your 6ft+ passengers. Trunk space can fit 2 adult mountain bikes, stroller and lots of camping gear w/o putting the back seats down. Comfortable for long road trips (Es has auto seats that recline almost flat).

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  Intrepid ESs with leather are the best! - 2002 Dodge Intrepid
  By Gladys Fir - June 15 - 2:00 am

  The Intrepid ES with leather and 4-disc- in-dash cd changer and moonroof has plenty of comfort and room.